Portable pitching mound

ABSTRACT

A portable pitching mound includes a base portion and a skin formed over the base portion. The base portion may include a foam core to reduce the weight of the mound. The skin may be a rigid skin to improve durability, such as sheet metal. The foam core may include a forward portion and a rearward portion selectively removably secured to one another. The forward portion is sloped downward away from the rearward portion. The rearward portion provides a substantially horizontal upper surface. A pitching rubber is secured to the metal skin on the substantially horizontal surface. Artificial turf may be secured to the forward sloped surface of the forward portion.

BACKGROUND

This application relates to a pitching mound and more particularly to a portable pitching mound.

Most baseball pitchers are accustomed to pitching from a raised mound. However, if a particular baseball field or other practice location lacks a pitching mound, a pitching mound cannot be easily or quickly added. Further, pitchers practicing indoors, such as in a gym, often do not have the opportunity to pitch from a proper mound. Pitching mounds that are somewhat portable exist, but they are heavy and cumbersome or unsuitable for indoor use.

SUMMARY

A portable pitching mound according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a base portion and a skin formed over the base portion. The base portion may include a foam core to reduce the weight of the mound. The skin may be a rigid skin to improve durability, such as sheet metal. The foam core may include a forward portion and a rearward portion selectively removably secured to one another. The forward portion is sloped downward away from the rearward portion. The rearward portion provides a substantially horizontal upper surface. A pitching rubber is secured to the metal skin on the substantially horizontal surface. Artificial turf may be secured to the forward sloped surface of the forward portion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a pitching mound according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a bottom exploded perspective view of the pitching mound of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of two cams that could be used in the pitching mound of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the assembled pitching mound.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

A portable pitching mound 10 according one embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 1. The portable pitching mound 10 includes a forward base portion 12 a and a rearward base portion 12 b. The base portions 12 a, b are low density foam core that has been CNC cut (or, alternatively, molded). The foam may be polystyrene expanded 1.0 lb-1.5 lb/cu ft. The low-density foam core is used to reduce the mound weight while a rigid skin 16 gives the unit strength and durability. The rigid skin 16 may be sheet metal. The forward base portion 12 a is sloped downward away from the rearward base portion 12 b. The rearward base portion 12 b provides a substantially horizontal upper surface.

A plurality (in this example, three) complementary mechanical cam locks 14 a, 14 b are attached via high strength weather resistant expanding glue to the forward base portion 12 a and the rearward base portion 12 b, respectively.

Pre-cut to pattern metal sheet portions 16 are attached to the surfaces of the base portions 12 a, b and placed in a vacuum assisted pressurized clamping system until the glue is cured. This permanently encases cams 14 a, b and reinforcements 24 within the metal skin formed by the metal sheet portions 16.

Pitching rubber 22 and artificial turf 18 a, 18 b are attached to the metal sheet portions 16. High strength weather resistant expending glue attaches the pitching rubber 22 and turf 18 a, 18 b directly to the metal sheet portions 16, which are placed in a vacuum assisted pressurized clamping system until the glue is cured.

FIG. 2 is a bottom exploded view of the pitching mound 10. Referring to FIG. 2, the base portions 12 a, b each include a plurality of CNC-cut (or molded) recesses for receiving reinforcements 24, attached via high-strength weather-resistant expanding glue (for example). Feet 26 may be attached to each of the reinforcements 24. The feet 26 may be skid/scuff-resistant to make the mound 10 suitable for use on a gym floor. The reinforcements 24 may be wood, metal, hard plastic or other material suitable for distributing the weight of the mound 10 to the feet 26.

FIG. 3 shows an example of the cams 14 a, b of FIGS. 1 and 2 that could be used to selectively connect the two halves of the assembled mound 10 together. The mechanical locking cams 14 a, b are utilized in order to easily lock and unlock the two halves of the mound 10. Other connectors could be used instead of or in addition to the cams 14 a, b shown.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the assembled pitching mound 10.

The two piece design is to allow a smaller foot print for storage and transportation. The reduced weight and the two-piece design make this mound truly portable; lightweight and small without compromising strength and durability.

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes and jurisprudence, exemplary configurations described above are considered to represent a preferred embodiment of the invention. However, it should be noted that the invention can be practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated and described without departing from its spirit or scope. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A portable pitching mound comprising: a foam core; and a rigid skin secured to the foam core.
 2. The portable pitching mound of claim 1 wherein the foam core includes a forward portion and a rearward portion selectively removably secured to one another.
 3. The portable pitching mound of claim 2 wherein the forward portion is sloped downward away from the rearward portion.
 4. The portable pitching mound of claim 3 wherein the rearward portion provides a substantially horizontal upper surface.
 5. The portable pitching mound of claim 4 further including a pitching rubber secured to the substantially horizontal upper surface.
 6. The portable pitching mound of claim 5 further including artificial turf secured to the rigid skin.
 7. The portable pitching mound of claim 6 further including a plurality of reinforcements secured to an underside of the foam core.
 8. The portable pitching mound of claim 7 further including a plurality of feet secured to the plurality of reinforcements.
 9. The portable pitching mound of claim 8 wherein the foam core is formed of expanded polystyrene.
 10. The portable pitching mound of claim 9 wherein the rigid skin is sheet metal.
 11. The portable pitching mound of claim 1 wherein the foam core includes a forward portion sloped downward away from a rearward portion of the foam core.
 12. The portable pitching mound of claim 11 wherein the rearward portion provides a substantially horizontal upper surface.
 13. The portable pitching mound of claim 12 further including a pitching rubber secured to the substantially horizontal upper surface and artificial turf secured to the rigid skin
 14. The portable pitching mound of claim 13 wherein the foam core is formed of expanded polystyrene.
 15. A method for forming a portable pitching mound including the steps of: a) forming a foam base; b) attaching a rigid skin to the foam base; and c) attaching turf to the rigid skin.
 16. The method of claim 15 further including the step of attaching a pitching rubber to the rigid skin.
 17. The method of claim 16 wherein said step a) includes the step of forming a forward base portion and a rearward base portion, said method further including the step of removably securing the forward base portion to the rearward base portion. 